Shock-absorber.



T. L. WITKOP.

SHOCK ABSORBER.

APPLICATION FILED Jun/16.1914.

Patented July 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES JY m A TTOINEY COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH co..wAsMlNuToN. D. c.

T. L. WITKOP.

SHOCK ABSORBER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16. 1914.

Patented July 6, '1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Affair/VE? NVENTOR W1 TNESS Es COLUMBIA PLANouRAPI-l C0..WA5H1NOTON, D. C.

THEODORE L. WITKOP, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SHOCK-ABSORBER.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented July ti, 1915..

Application filed July 16, 1914. Serial No. 851,277.

T0 all fao/0m t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Trrnononn L. WITKOP, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in Buffalo, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in4 Shock- Absorbers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

y invention relates generally to shock absorbers, and more particularly to vehicle shock absorbers which are designed to be placed between the body of the vehicle chassis, or between the chassis and the axis of the vehicle.

The general object of my invention has been to provide a device in which pneumatic means shall be employed, whereby the shock or jolts caused by the vehicle passing over rough roads may be substantially eliminated. Moreover, with the use of my device, hard tires may be used in place of the pneumatic tires, and furthermore my device is such that, if desired, the springs of the vehicle may be dispensed with.

I have not shown my absorber attached to any part of a vehicle, but it is obvious that the angle iron frames of the same may be attached in any desired position so that the device will absorb the shock given to the body of the vehicle.

l have accomplished, the above objects and advantages by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification. l

In the drawings, like figures of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, of which:

Figure l is a plan view of my device with a portion thereof broken away. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of one of the shock absorbing units and is taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevation of one of the shock absorbing units with a portion thereof in section. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of my device showing a vmodified form of air chamber. Fig. 6 'is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of one of the connections in the modified form shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of one of the shock absorbing units. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation of a modified form of spring retaining means.'l

county of Erie, and

My device comprises an upper angle iron frame 10 and a lower angle iron frame 11, which are secured to the parts of the vehicle to which my device is to be attached. Preferably extending around the inner corner of each of these angle iron frames is an air chamber 12, which is provided at suitable intervals with projecting air cushions 13. Each of these air chambers is ypreferably made continuous and is of the usual tire construction, comprising an inner tube 14 and an outer casing 15. Each of the inner tubes is provided with a suitable air valve 16, whereby the same may be inflated with air under suitable pressure. The air cushions 13 on the upper and lower air chambers point toward each other' and are disposed in a straight vertical line.

17 are air cushion cylinders, which are arranged so that the inner end of each will be disposed around one of the air cushions 13,` and thus form a casing for the same, whereby the air cushion is protected from injury and from undue expansion when the device is operated. Each of these cylinders is provided preferably at its inner end with oppositely arranged lips 18, which extend partly over the air chambers 12` and thus act to more securely retain the air cushions in place. Each of the air cylinders 17 is provided with a reduced bore 19 in its bearing end, and a plunger 20 has its ends disposed in two opposed cylinders. rllhe bore in part of the cylinder 17, which incases the air cushion, is larger than the diameter of the piston 20 so that the material in the cushion will not be pinched when the piston or plunger descends. The plunger 20 is provided at each end with a resilient shoe 21, which prevents the plunger from cutting into or injuring the air cushions 13. Secured to the horizontal leg` of the angle iron and arranged beneath the air cushion 12, and in line with the plunger 20, is a resilient bumper 22. Should the pressure in the air cushion accidentally fail, the plungers descend until they force the upper portion of the air cushions down against this bumper, which would act not only to temporarily absorb the shock, but also to prevent injury to the air cushions or air chamber.

To the outer end of each of the cylinders of each pair is secured one end of a helical spring 23. When the frames 10 and 1l are being separated from the rebound of the absor-ber, these springs 23 will be placed urli der tension and aid in restraining and checking the movement of the frames. Arranged preferably lnear each of the kshock absorbing units is a stop 24, which may beprovided by using a wire rope, chain or other suitable means. 'Ihis stop prevents the frames from separating beyond a predetermined point.

In the modied form of my invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, theair chambers are shownas being formed of a short rubber inner tube 25 and casing 26 at each of the cylinders 17 these Vinner tubes being connected toa metallic tube 27. Any suitable means may beemployed for connecting the ends of the vinner tubes and casings with the ends of kthe metallic tubes. In the drawing, I have shown one of the many ways of mak ing this connection. As shown, the end of the tube is provided with corrugations eX- tending around the same and the end of the inner tube `is disposed over these corrugations and properly cemented and secured thereto by wiresbands 28, extending around the same. The casingv 26 is prefer( bly secured over the inner tube and the end of the metallic tube by suitable lacing.

In Fig. 7, I show a form of my invention where I dispense with the use of the air cushions 13. In this form, the plunger 20 is preferably provided at its lower end with an enlarged shoe 29, which bears directly 'on the l.upper surface of the air chamber 12.

InFig. 8, I have shown a modified form of -spring retaining means. In this form, I

preferably provide two helical springs 30 at each of the shock absorbing units. These springs/have their ends secured to each of the angle iron frames 10 and 11.

'Y From the foregoing description it will be clearly seen that when my device is attached to a vehicle and the frames 10 and 1l tend to approach each other, due to a sudden jolt or a rough road, the plungers or pistons 20 will be -forced down into the cylinders'and will thus bear against the upper ends of the air cushions 13, thereby compressing the air therein and thus resisting the shock.

It will be seen lthat the cylinder, through which the plunger 20 slides, is of considerable length, and as the cylinders are rigidly secured .to the frames 10 and 11, these plungers also act to prevent relative lateral motion ofthe frames. l

While I have shown the air chambers in my device 1n the form of one endless tubing,

, itis obvious, that if desired, these air chambers maybe made in sections, one section foreach shock absorbing unit, and each section provided with a separate air valve. rIhese and many other modifications of thc details herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims, and I do not wish to be limited to the exact embodiment herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A shock absorber comprising an upper frame, a lower frame, a resilient air chamber secured to each of said frames, and slidably mounted plungers carried by said frames and bearing against said air chambers.

2. A shock absorber comprising an upper frame, a lower frame, a resilient air chamber secured to each of said frames, slidably mounted plungers carried by said frames and bearing against said air chambers, a resilient shoe carried at each end of each of said plungers, and resilient bumpers carried b y said frames, said bumpers being dis posed beneath each of said air chambers and in line with each of said plungers.

3. A shock absorber comprising an upper frame, a lower frame, a resilient air chamber secured to each of said frames, cylinders carried by each frame, plungers slidably mounted in said cylinders and bearing against said air chambers.

4. A shock absorber comprising an upper frame, a lower frame, a resilient air chamber secured to each of said frames, each of said air chambers being provided with air cushions, cylinders carried by each of said frames and incasing said air cushions. and plungers slidably mounted in said cylinders and bearing against said air cushions.

5'. A shock absorber comprising an upper frame, a lower frame, a resilient air chamber secured to each of said frames, each of said air vchambers being provided with air cushions, cylinders carried by each of said frames and incasing said air cushions, and plungers slidably mounted in said cylinders and bearing against said air cushions, said cylinders having a bore around said air cushions, which is larger in diameter than the diameter of said plungers.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' TI-IEODORE L. VVITKOP.

Witnesses:

J. WM. ELLIS, WALTER I-I. KELLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the l"Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). C. 

